The symbol of the bull in Spanish literature and painting

Abstract

Agriculture is the greatest achievement of man. The development of farming revolutionized the culture of ancient peoples and fundamentally changed their lives. A man associated the ox with agriculture because the ox represented the pulling power, the main "tool" for tilling the land. That is why ancient man associated the bull with fertility, deified or turned it into a sacred animal of the deity. All this led to the worship of the bull, which was reflected in the religion and culture of the ancient states. In this regard, Spain is no exception. The symbol of the bull appeared on the Iberian Peninsula for the first time in the prehistoric period. It was a "primitive" cave wall painting that Picasso considered the pinnacle of art. Thus, his article discusses the importance of the bull as a symbol for Spain and what mark it has left in Spanish literature and painting. The emphasis is on crucial prose and poetry as well as authors, poets and visual artists who have written or drawn about bullfighting. Spain, the symbol of the bull has taken deep roots, the bull has become part of the Spanish identity, and the corrida - a bullfight - has become a public feast for the Spanish people. That is why the Spanish philosopher José Ortega y Gasset notes that it is impossible to understand the history of Spain without understanding the bullfight. We find the bull in all areas of Spanish culture. For example, in traditional Spanish dance and song. Flamenco embodied the symbol of the bull in such a way that, for many, flamenco and corrida are perceived as one genre of art. The bull was a source of inspiration for writers, poets, artists, composers. They tried to convey the world of bullfighting, the atmosphere of the celebration, and the sublimity of the fighting bull. Many artists were fascinated by this eternal struggle between man and nature. They have always been attracted to the spectacle that is only characteristic of bullfighting - dancing and playing with death and fate... Because of this, Spain is the only nation to make death a public spectacle, according to Lorca. This attribute sets this nation apart from all others. It should be noted, nevertheless, that many authors, especially those who are associated with the generation of ´98, were not drawn to the bull theme and instead perceived bullfighting as a symbol of Spanish provincialism and backwardness. Miguel de Unamuno is one such author.